Medical, morphological and functional aspects of Greek football referees.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate state of health, morphological and functional profile of football referees (Rs). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A prevalence study. PARTICIPANTS: 188 Greek active male Rs of A, B, C and D football divisions have been evaluated. MEASURES: Standard clinical-instrumental and anthropometric methods were used. Appropriate functional tests were used for evaluation of visual performance, physical condition and mental ability. RESULTS: Mean age, height, weight, and BMI were 36.3 +/- 4.5 years, 177.4 +/- 5.7 cm, 81.6 +/- 7.8 kg, and 25.9 +/- 2.1 kg.m-2 respectively. 64% and 6% were overweight and obese respectively. In 27.2% resting blood pressure exceeded upper normal limits. Active (41.5%) and former smokers (17.0%) were identified. Visual acuity and colour discrimination were defective in 2.4% and 0.7% respectively. Stereo depth perception deficiently in 7.1%. Compared to international standards, Rs' mean scores in the 6 physical condition field tests were found satisfactory. All Rs were found efficient in the agility test, two-thirds in the maximal and prolonged speed tests and half of them in the endurance test. Relatively more Rs of A and B divisions were found fit as compared to Rs of C and D divisions. Average IQ score was 112.5 +/- 11.1, while about 90% and 34% of the Rs' IQ score was > or = 100 and > or = 120 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Average male Greek football R is an apparently healthy, young to middle aged, rather overweight, and functionally efficient. The great majority of Rs of A and B divisions appear better trained and somewhat better functional than Rs of C and D divisions.

Intravenous infusions of nifedipine: an alternative for the prevention of hypertension in eye surgery under local anesthesia.

In order to control critical rises of blood pressure during the peri-operative period in elderly hypertensive patients, the effectiveness of a continuous intravenous infusion of nifedipine was studied. In a double blind study, patients (n = 60) who underwent eye surgery under local anesthesia were divided randomly into three groups. Patients who were found to have 200 > SBP > 160 and 120 > DBP > 90 mmHg as the previous day of surgery, as well as patients who did not receive any anti-hypertensive treatment regimen during the last week before surgery, were selected. Five min before performing local anesthesia, a continuous infusion of nifedipine at two different rates of 0.65 mg/h and 1.25 mg/h, was administered in groups A and B respectively, whereas group C received a placebo. SBP, DBP and HR were recorded every 5 min. for an hour. Statistically significant differences among the profiles of the three groups were found. The control group had a higher SBP/DBP. None of the groups, showed significant changes in HR. In conclusion, the intravenous infusion of nifedipine in a dose 1.25 mg/h, seems to control the hypertensive phases of blood pressure, without dropping to any unduly low level, risking undesirable side effects in elderly hypertensive patients during perioperative period.

Fluctuations in serum magnesium levels during total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol.

Forty patients who underwent eye surgery under total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol where investigated in order to determine the fluctuations of serum magnesium levels during anaesthesia. Six blood samples were taken before anaesthesia, after induction, 1 hour later, 2 hours later, after recovery, and 24 hours after surgery. In the same time intervals, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and temperature were recorded. The results showed a statistically significant decrease in serum magnesium levels during anaesthesia. No correlations between this decrease and the fluctuations of blood pressure, heart rate or temperature were found. These results indicate that there is a shift of magnesium into the tissue stores due to the state of anaesthesia, possibly by a direct effect of the anaesthetic agents on the cell membrane itself. Further investigation is needed with other techniques and agents employed in general anaesthesia.

Prophylactic effects of intravenous magnesium on hypertensive emergencies after cataract surgery. A new contribution to the pharmacological use of magnesium in anaesthesiology.

The pharmacological effects of magnesium sulphate heptahydrate (MgSO4.7H2O) on hypertensive patients during the perioperative period were used, to control critical rises of blood pressure. This double-blind study included 40 hypertensive elderly patients, who underwent eye surgery under local anaesthesia; they were divided into two groups (A and B) of 20 patients each. An intravenous dose of 4g MgSO4.7H2O was given to group. A, while group B, which was used as a control group, was given to a placebo. All patients were premedicated with 10 mg oral diazepam 1.5 h before the operation. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and ECG were monitored for 1 h. None of the patients who received MgSO4.7H2O showed any ECG disturbances. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as heart rate, fluctuated outside the critical range, whereas in the control group an increase of blood pressure was noted which was treated with other anti hypertensive drugs. The results indicated that parenteral administration of MgSO4.7H2O in hypertensive patients before surgery stabilized blood pressure fluctuations outside the critical range, without causing the pressure to fall to a level that might risk undesirable side effects during eye surgery under local anaesthesia.